Secondary 9-10 

What a challenging, exciting and hard-working year we have had in Secondary 9/10.  As well as completing all of the necessary English and Maths components of our curriculum, our students have also participated in our STEAM, Fit For Life and Duke of Edinburgh programs.

STEAM Program

STEAM is a program running across schools all around the world that is trying to re-focus attention back ontoScience, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Maths.  We have been running STEAM in Secondary 9/10 for a year now.  The program has been a huge success.

For the first 15 weeks of the semester students choose from one of the following STEAM programs: Photography, Media, Music, Electronics, Coding/Robotics, 3D Printing and Design and Special Effects.  The program runs for the first 4 sessions each Friday.  The student led work to come out of these programs has been amazing. 

Photography

Students have learnt to edit their own photos in Photoshop, utilised the green screen room for effects and made Claymation films.

Media

Students made their own lego stop-motion animation films.

Music

Students learnt to play their favourite pop songs on different instruments.

Electronics 

Students learnt to work with circuits and built things like traffic lights, fans and torches.

Robotics

Students worked with different coding apps on the ipads and programed the ‘Now Robot’.

3D Printing and Design

Students built their own drag racing cars with CO2 gas propelled rockets on the back of them; and then raced them.

Special Effects

Students made a 10 minute Sci Fi / Horror film called ‘Blog Horror’.  This film featured some incredible special effects.

For the last 5 weeks of the semester students were placed in new mixed groups and were given a problem to solve in their group using the skills and knowledge they had learnt from their STEAM program.  During the last week of the year the students will present their solutions to the rest of the section.

Fit For Life

Students in Secondary 9/10 also participate in regular physical recreational activities as part of our Wednesday morning Fit For Life program. 

Our students are able to choose from Interschool Sport (playing various sports against different schools), Racquet Ball (played at the Diamond Valley Sports Complex), Outdoor Adventure (fishing, hiking, cooking over an open fire at various locations), Baseball (complete immersion in this tactical game), YMCA (a 1 hour work out at the Macleod YMCA) and Taekwondo (a 1 hour program aimed to build self-esteem and self-confidence).

Duke Of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a program that covers everything we do in Secondary 9/10. 

By participating in STEAM, Fit For Life, attending a camp and completing some community service, our students are able to work towards completing their Duke of Edinburgh certificate. 

This certificate aims to engage students in out-of-the-classroom activities and give them a heart and mind for the community.  Over the course of the year our students have raised hundreds of dollars for their chosen charities and greatly assisted the local community.

Term 4

With highlights of the year also including section discos (Red Carpet Parties) and Staff Vs Students Basketball matches, we have certainly had a terrific year in Secondary 9/10. 

Each and every student should be incredibly proud of all they have achieved, both in and out of the classroom. 

As the year begins to unwind, as testing wraps up and reports are completed I wish every student a happy end to 2016. Let’s finish with a bang!

Tim Clarke

Secondary 9/10 Team Leader